Cardiac Rehabilitation: Medicine and Exercise

Topic Overview

If you are in a cardiac rehab program, you are probably taking medicines for your heart and for other health reasons.

Some prescribed medicines can change your heart rate, blood pressure, and overall ability to exercise. It's important for your rehab team to know what medicines you take.

Give your rehab team a list of the medicines you are taking, especially if they cause any side effects during exercise.

Which medicines affect exercise?

This table lists medicines that you might be taking and how they affect exercise.

Effect of medicines on heart rate, blood pressure, and exercise

Medicine

Affect heart rate (HR)?

Affect blood pressure (BP)?

Affect exercise capacity?

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

No

Lower BP

No

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)

No

Lower BP

No

Antiarrhythmic agents

May lower HR, depending on the type of medicine

No

No

Beta-blockers

Lower HR

Lower BP

Decrease, but may increase if you have angina

Bronchodilators

Raise HR

No

Increase capacity

Calcium channel blockers

Raise or lower HR (depending on the drug)

Lower BP

No

Digoxin

Lower HR

No

Increase, if atrial fibrillation or heart failure is
present

Diuretics

No

Lower BP

No

Statins

No

No

No

Nitrates (nitroglycerin)

Raise HR

Lower BP

Increase, if angina or heart failure is present

Vasodilators

Raise HR

Lower BP (raises BP after exercise)

No

Anxiety and depression medicines

Medicines
for anxiety or depression may affect your blood pressure and heart rate.

Antidepressants may
increase your heart rate as well as decrease your blood pressure at rest and
during exercise. But some antidepressants can increase blood pressure.
If you are concerned about effects from your medicine, talk with your doctor.

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How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.